Flag Football Route Trees: Every Route Explained

Every pass play in football is built from the same set of basic routes. If you know the nine routes on the route tree, you can read any playbook, run any concept, and understand why receivers end up where they end up.

This guide is for flag football and 7-on-7 players, but these routes are exactly the same ones NFL receivers run. The fundamentals do not change — only the speed does.

The Route Tree

The route tree is a numbering system that assigns each route a number from 0 to 9. Different coaching systems use slightly different numbering, but the routes themselves are universal. Here is each one.

0 — Flat

Depth: 1-2 yards | Break: Toward the sideline

The flat route is the shortest route on the tree. The receiver takes one or two steps upfield and then breaks directly toward the sideline. It is a safety valve — when nothing else is open, the quarterback dumps it to the flat. In flag football, the flat route is your best friend against zone coverage because it gets the ball out fast and lets the receiver make a move in space.

1 — Slant

Depth: 3 steps (about 5 yards) | Break: 45 degrees inside

Three steps upfield, then break sharply inside at a 45-degree angle. The slant is one of the highest-percentage throws in football. It is quick, it gets the ball away from the sideline, and it works against both man and zone coverage. The key is a sharp break — do not round it off or the defender will jump the route.

2 — Out

Depth: 5-8 yards | Break: 90 degrees toward sideline

Run upfield to your landmark depth, then plant your inside foot and break sharply toward the sideline at a 90-degree angle. The out route is effective because the quarterback can throw the ball before the receiver makes the break — it is a timing throw. The risk is interceptions: if the throw is late or behind, a flat defender can jump it.

3 — Drag / In (Shallow)

Depth: 5-6 yards | Break: 90 degrees inside

Same concept as the out route but breaking inside across the field. Drags are man-coverage killers because the receiver runs through traffic and creates natural picks. In flag football, a drag paired with a slant from the other side creates crossing routes that are almost impossible to defend.

4 — Curl (Hitch)

Depth: 10-12 yards | Break: Turn back toward quarterback

Run straight upfield for 10 to 12 yards, then stop and turn back toward the quarterback. The curl finds the soft spot in zone coverage — the space between the underneath and deep defenders. The receiver needs to "sit down" in the open window and give the quarterback a big target. In flag football, the curl is your money route on third-and-medium.

5 — Dig (In)

Depth: 12-15 yards | Break: 90 degrees inside

Run upfield to 12-15 yards and break inside across the field at 90 degrees. The dig route attacks the intermediate middle of the field — one of the most dangerous areas for a defense. It requires a quarterback who can drive the ball across the field with accuracy. The dig is the route that separates good offenses from average ones.

6 — Corner

Depth: 12-15 yards | Break: 45 degrees toward sideline and upfield

Push upfield like you are running a go route, then break at about 12-15 yards toward the back corner of the end zone (or the sideline, if you are not in the red zone). The corner route is one of the best Cover 2 beaters in football because it splits the gap between the corner playing flat and the safety playing deep half. It is also a great red zone route in flag football.

7 — Post

Depth: 12-15 yards | Break: 45 degrees inside toward goalposts

Mirror image of the corner route, but breaking inside toward the goalposts instead of outside. The post attacks the deep middle of the field and is the classic big-play route. Against Cover 2, the post splits the safeties. Against Cover 3, it tests the free safety's range. Every receiver needs to be able to run a clean post.

8 — Seam

Depth: Vertical | Break: None — straight up the seam

Run straight upfield on the hash or between the hash and the numbers. There is no break — the seam is a vertical route that attacks the gaps between deep zone defenders. Tight ends and slot receivers run seams to exploit the space between the deep middle and deep outside thirds in Cover 3. In 7-on-7, the seam is a matchup nightmare because there is no pass rush to limit the throw.

9 — Go (Fly / Streak)

Depth: Vertical | Break: None — run as fast as you can

The simplest route on the tree. Line up, run straight as fast as you can, and beat the defender deep. The go route is a speed route — if you are faster than the corner, you are open. Even when you are not open, running a go route pushes the defense deep and opens up everything underneath. In flag football, a go route combined with a slant underneath is the most basic and effective play you can draw up.

Putting Routes Together

Individual routes do not win games — route combinations do. When you pair a short route with a deep route on the same side of the field, you create a "high-low" read that forces the defender to pick one. When you pair crossing routes from opposite sides, you create traffic that defenders have to navigate through.

Some classic combinations for flag football:

• Slant + Flat: High-low on the flat defender. Simple and effective.
• Curl + Go: The curl pulls the defender down, the go goes over the top.
• Out + Seam: The out pulls the corner to the sideline, the seam attacks the vacated space.
• Post + Dig: Two routes attacking the middle of the field at different levels.

Practice These Routes

Spiral AI has 30+ routes available with diagrams showing the exact depth, break point, and timing for each one. You can tap on any route to see it animated on the field. Whether you are a player learning routes for the first time or a coach installing a new concept, having the visual makes a huge difference.